New events slated for Grand Olde West Days

Grand Olde West Days may be in its 16th year of celebrating Western heritage, but organizers keep finding new events to change the face of the four-day festival.

Grand Olde West Days, one of the city's biggest annual festivals, runs Thursday through Monday.

New to this year's celebration are bed races, a car show and a bull-riding contest sponsored by the Professional Bull Riders Association.

The bed races are an idea developed by the Craig Chamber of Commerce ambassadors. It came to the group when it was brainstorming for new activities for this year's event.

Ambassador Delaine Voloshun said the event was popular in other cities and has great potential here.

"You can bring whatever rolls," Voloshun said. "A roll-away bed, an ambulance stretcher, whatever you have. The main idea is to have a good time."

Riders must have a helmet for safety, and the bed should have four people to push.

The entry fee is $25 per bed. A prize of $100 will be awarded to the fastest bed, and $25 will go to the bed with the best decorations.

The race begins at 11:30 a.m. Monday. It will take place on Victory Way, between Russell and Breeze streets.

A car show used to be a part of Grand Olde West Days, and the reformation of the Colorado Cruisers Car Club ensures that the show will go on for many years to come.

The car show is set for Saturday at Wyman's Living History Museum, east of Craig on U.S. Highway 40.

Club President Harvey Craft expects 400 to 500 cars to enter the show. Participants may enter a variety of vehicles, Craft said.

Show entries will have a chance to earn prizes such as truck tires and a Chevy 350 engine. Door prizes will be given away throughout the show.

The cost to enter is $30. An awards ceremony is set for 3 p.m.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, the best bull riders to visit Northwest Colorado this year will be featured at the Moffat County Fairgrounds for the Professional Bull Riders Discovery Tour.

Forty riders are signed up for the event. Seventeen riders are signed up as alternates. Riders who do well at the event will qualify for bigger, professional bull riding events this fall.

Rough stock organizer Hal Burns has five bull contractors to pick from while gathering enough animals for the ride.

The Craig bull ride is the only professional bull riding event scheduled for the area this summer. The local event will include a calf scramble and a "get the goat" contest for children, organizer Jackie Roberts said.

"We have riders coming from all over the country," Roberts said. "They're all trying to qualify for upper levels of competition."

Tickets are $15 at the gate and $12 in advance. They can be purchased at the Craig Chamber of Commerce, City Market, Neolithics and Under the Aspen Tree.